Baku: Azerbaijan is considering a full withdrawal from the Council of Europe, President Ilham Aliyev announced, citing bias from European institutions against his country. Speaking at the fourth Shusha Global Media Forum, Aliyev criticized the impact of Azerbaijan's membership in the Council, suggesting that leaving the organization would go unnoticed domestically.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Azerbaijani president expressed serious contemplation of leaving the organization following the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's (PACE) suspension of voting rights for Azerbaijan's delegation in January 2024. Aliyev viewed this as a punitive measure for what he described as efforts to restore the country's sovereignty. He emphasized a potential complete departure from both the Council of Europe and PACE, attributing the decision to perceived discrimination over the past two years.
Aliyev mentioned that the withdrawal plans were temporarily paused after Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset requested dialogue. However, Aliyev criticized the lack of progress, labeling the Council's demands as "absolutely unacceptable." He stated Azerbaijan would only reconsider its position if its voting rights within PACE were reinstated, stressing that Azerbaijan was not responsible for the deteriorating relations.
On a broader scale, Aliyev addressed regional stability concerns, particularly regarding conflicts in neighboring regions, including the Ukraine war and US-Iran tensions. He expressed Azerbaijan's support for peace efforts and commended Pakistan's mediation attempts, particularly praising Pakistani leadership for their intermediary work between the US and Iran.
Aliyev reiterated his country's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, urging for an immediate cessation of the conflict. He also noted the normalization of relations with Russia following previous tensions, expressing satisfaction with their current state.
Reflecting on the Second Karabakh War, Aliyev explained Azerbaijan's decision to cease military operations to prevent an indefinite conflict. He drew parallels with the Middle East, advocating for regional normalization efforts post-conflict and discouraging escalation into global disputes.